Curious why we need essential fatty acids? Yes, fats get a lot of bad press. As soon as people hear the word 'fats' they automatically assume, it's bad news! This is true in the case of trans fats (bad fats), but not in the case of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (good fats). Adding foods to your diet which are rich in these healthy fats can be super beneficial for your health. So today we're shining a light on why we need essential fatty acids. Here's some facts about fats.
Sources of Healthy Fats
There are many natural food sources of healthy fats such as:
Choosing foods that have a high concentration of healthy fats can help improve your health and wellbeing as they support optimal cardiovascular, joint and organ health.
Why We Need Essential Fatty Acids
So why do we need essential fatty acids? There are certain type of fats that are essential for your health and wellbeing. They are called Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), and the human body is incapable of producing these EFAs internally. To obtain these EFA’s you must include them in your diet and ensure you are consuming adequate amounts of foods rich in EFA’s on a regularly basis.
The reason why we need essential fatty acids is they help to transport fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K throughout the body. There are two essential fatty acids, linoleic and alpha-linolenic. These EFA’s can be found in foods and they are utilised to build specialised fats called omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Omega-3 & 6 can be found in foods such as:
These omega oils help to support:
- heart health
- joint health
- brain function
- healthy glowing skin
As easy as all this sounds it can be difficult to include adequate amounts of these healthy fats into your diet. If you find it hard to consume foods rich in essential fatty acids you should try adding a good Omega-3 and Omega-6 food supplement.
Fish Oils
Omega-3 fatty acids are a wonderful addition to your diet and they can easily be added by taking a food supplement like Eskimo-3. The Eskimo range of omega supplements were developed after research showed that the native people of the Arctic Circle consumed large amounts of monounsaturated fats, whilst having a low incidence of cardiac problems.
This amazing fish oil supplement contains a range of Omega-3 fatty acids that may help to maintain optimum brain function, joint health, cardiovascular system and skin. Eskimo-3 is available in liquids and capsule from and there is even a range which has been specially formulated for kids.
Vegetable Omega Oil Supplements
If the idea of fish oil doesn’t appeal to you, there are always vegetarian and vegan options available at Evergreen. Udo's Choice Ultimate Oil Blend contains a unique blend of oils that delivers a balanced ratio of the essential fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6.
This oil has the added advantage of being gentle on the stomach and easily absorbed by the body. Udo’s Oil can be beneficial for joint, brain and cardiovascular health. It also supports the appearance of your skin by supplying essential nutrients for a soft glowing appearance. Essentially, this oil has been formulated to benefit your health from the inside out.
What makes Udo’s Oil a real favourite here at Evergreen is the fact that you can add it to your meals. Simply add it to your salads, smoothies, pasta and shakes and enjoy. Just remember not to cook with the oil as this destroys all the natural health compounds.
Beware of Low Fat Foods
No that we've covered why we need essential fatty acids, a word on low fat foods. Many of us have tried a low fat or fat free diet at some stage. But did you know that many of the fat free or low fat versions of foods are actually more harmful to your health than the full fat options as they have been modified due to the lack of fat?
These low fat or fat free versions use a combination of additives and fillers to help improve the taste and texture. Many of these low fat versions have a massive amount of added sugar to help improve the taste. So remember low fat, doesn’t mean healthy.
Please note, this blog is for informational purposes only and should not replace medical advice.
It’s always best to consult your doctor before taking any new supplements, treatments or remedies if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication.
Are you looking for more nutritional advice? Then read our blog 'What are the Benefits of Taking Amino Acids?'.
Checked and updated: 12th September 2023
